The Ministry of Culture and Community Development (MCCD), under the leadership of the Honourable Michelle Benjamin, MP, Minister of Culture and Community Development, continues to prioritise its commitment to the cultural fraternity through the provision of sustained financial support to key cultural organisations and stakeholders across Trinidad and Tobago. In this regard, on Wednesday September 23, 2026, Minister Benjamin will distribute outstanding prize monies as detailed below.
Recognising the critical role these organisations play in preserving, developing and promoting the country’s cultural traditions, the Ministry continues to facilitate annual subventions, prize monies and other priority funding, to assist cultural organisations in executing their respective mandates and programmes.
Among the organisations receiving subventions and related funding from the Ministry are the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO), Pan Trinbago and the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Bands Association (TTCBA). These organisations play integral roles in the administration, development and promotion of Calypso, Steelpan and Mas, respectively, all key elements of “the greatest show on earth” – Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival.
As such, throughout 2026, the Ministry has continued to facilitate the disbursement of approved funding to these entities. The following tables therefore provide a breakdown of disbursements from November 2025 to date – inclusive of administrative and operational expenses, assistance with Carnival expenditure, prize monies for Carnival 2026 and player remittances.
Details of Payment of Outstanding Funds
As aforementioned, it is anticipated that on Wednesday September 23, 2026, Pan Trinbago and TTCBA will received four (4) cheques totalling TT$24,291,734.09. These payments cover outstanding National Panorama 2026 prize monies and appearance fees for Pan Trinbago, as well as outstanding senior prize allocations in addition to administrative and operational expenses associated with Carnival 2026 for TTCBA.
Minister Benjamin acknowledges the public discourse over the past six (6) months regarding financial disbursements in 2026, maintaining that discussions and continued engagement with the relevant stakeholders have been ongoing – reassuring all that the Ministry worked to ensure that these specific payments are cleared before the end of Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
As such, the fulfilment of these payments reaffirms that the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to ensuring that cultural organisations are supported in carrying out their responsibilities and advancing the continued development of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural sector.
Minister Benjamin therefore reiterates, “Our cultural organisations are fundamental to not only the preservation and continued development of the traditions that define us as Trinidad and Tobago but to all our industries. I as Minister take my duty to culture and community development seriously and am committed, as always, to supporting the cultural fraternity – ensuring that resources are made available to strengthen their work, sustain our traditions and create opportunities for continued growth within each and every sector. We as a Government remain steadfast in working with our stakeholders like Pan Trinbago, TTCBA, TUCO and all others to become more sustainable as entities operating independently of the state, all while maintaining a mutually agreeable relationship.”
The Ministry of Culture and Community Development will continue to work collaboratively with its cultural stakeholders to strengthen governance, support programme delivery and ensure that approved financial resources are directed towards the continued preservation, promotion and development of Trinidad and Tobago’s culture and community development.